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News Headlines
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
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Icy weather causes hazardous
roadways, power outages and school closings |
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By David
Fisher
Staff
Reporter |
Last week’s winter storm blanketed the region with freezing
rain, sleet and snow, resulting in icy roads, numerous power
outages and school closings.
TDOT crews across West Tennessee were out plowing and
salting roadways in an effort to improve highway safety.
In Weakley County, the slick roads made driving a nightmare
for motorists, who had to venture out on Tuesday, January
27. Tuesday night’s snowfall left a covering of snow over
the ice, which made driving a little better Wednesday, and
by Thursday, most main roads were cleared of ice and snow.
Weakley County Highway Superintendent Kermit Hopper told the
Enterprise Thursday, “We’ve been very busy. We’ve had all of
our personnel out and all of the machinery that is suitable
to use.” He stated that crews started clearing fallen trees
and limbs off of county roads around 6 a.m. Tuesday and
continued working until almost dark. He stated work resumed
Wednesday morning at approximately 3:30 a.m. and continued
until nightfall. Hopper said county highway workers returned
to clearing roads at approximately 5 a.m. Thursday and were
still working on clearing roadways. Hopper stated
approximately 300 trees and limbs were cleared Tuesday, and
even more on Wednesday and Thursday.
“We’re beginning to get caught up right now,” Hopper said.
“No doubt, more trees are going to fall when we get a little
wind.”
Hopper stated road crews have been called out to remove
debris on almost every single road in the northern portion
of the county at least once and some several times, due to
trees and limbs continuing to fall. He explained that
weakened limbs and trees sometimes fall several days after a
storm. For this reason he warns area citizens to be on the
watch for dangling limbs and not walk underneath trees that
might pose a hazard.
“We’ve been blessed not to have anybody injured at this
point,” Hopper said. However, he added that a large limb
fell off of a tree close to county workers when they were in
the process of moving another limb out of the road. “We
didn’t need anybody out after dark underneath those trees.
When they were out, they were in machines that had cabs on
them.
“From Martin east to Carroll County and Henry County lines
and all the way from Highway 22 to State Line Road, it’s
bad,” Hopper said. “We’ve still got some power lines that
are down and we can’t get them out of the way until the
power lines are removed.”
Hopper stated that numerous volunteers have offered their
assistance in helping to clear roads of debris, but couldn’t
possibly name them all. “We’ve also had offers from Gibson
County and Carroll County offering to help, but it was to
the point that we were able to handle it and didn’t pull
those folks in, but we do appreciate their offers.”
Hopper said considering the weather-related problems in
Kentucky, “our area dodged a bullet” when the ice storm came
through.
Hopper stated that, unlike some other counties that have
experienced flooding problems from all of the precipitation,
this has not really been a problem in Weakley County.
Hopper stated that he appreciates area citizens’ patience,
and the information area they have passed along to his
department to let road crews know where the fallen trees and
limbs are located.
Weakley County Emergency
Management Director Jamison Peevyhouse stated Friday there
were approximately 42 road closures in Weakley County, 20
calls reporting power outages, 20 accidents with no major
injuries, and about four fire calls due to electrical
issues.
(Read the rest of this story in the
February 4th print edition of the Dresden Enterprise.) |
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Dresden board approves annexation of
additional properties |
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By David
Fisher
Staff
Reporter |
Members of the Dresden Board of Mayor and
Aldermen approved the annexation of additional properties
adjacent to those recently annexed in the eastern part of
town, during their regular monthly meeting Monday, February
2. Additionally, the board approved a personnel policy
amendment, an open records policy, and adopted an audit for
the 2007-2008 fiscal year.
Annexation
An ordinance annexing
several properties located in the vicinity of Woodside
Circle known as the Glisson, Bradberry, Crawford, Bennett
and Bone properties, was approved by a unanimous vote of
5-0, with Alderman Donnie Essary being absent.
Board members also
approved an ordinance zoning these properties as R-1 low
density residential.
Additionally, the board
approved a resolution outlining a plan of services to be
provided to citizens in the annexed area to include: police
and fire protection; street maintenance, repair and
improvements; inspection services; street lighting; and
access to all city recreational facilities.
Water for domestic use is
already provided to the area, and new sewer service will be
made available to properties when a majority of the septic
systems fail. The resolution also stipulates if sewer is
available at the property line and the septic system fails,
the property shall be required to connect to the town’s
sewer system. Future developments which occur within close
proximity of an existing sewer main will be required to
connect to the city’s sewer service and to extend the sewer
main to the development at the developer’s expense.
(Read the rest of this story in the
February 4th print edition of the Dresden Enterprise.) |
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Couple charged in child abuse case |
Martin police arrested a couple on alleged child abuse
related charges last week, after being notified by hospital
officials.
According to affidavits filed with Weakley County General
Sessions Court, 22-year-old Steven Antonio Manzi, who
resides on Depot Street in Paris, is charged with aggravated
child abuse and neglect; and 23-year-old Brandi L.
Carrington of Kay Street in Martin is charged with failure
to report child abuse, brutality and neglect.
At approximately 9:09 a.m. Tuesday, January 27, Martin Ptl.
Larry D. Baker was dispatched to Volunteer General Hospital
to investigate injuries to a three-year-old girl that might
involve child abuse. Dr. Suresh Thota told Ptl. Baker the
victim had been brought to the emergency room by her mother,
Brandi Carrington, and that the child had bruises all over
the lower portion of her body.
Hospital personnel informed Martin Police Investigator James
Hatler that Carrington told them her daughter had been
suffering from severe nausea and abdominal pain. However,
upon examination of the child, the hospital staff discovered
the victim also had numerous bruises to her lower back and
legs, as well as her abdomen.
Carrington told police the child had been struck repeatedly
with a small leather belt approximately five days prior to
the hospital visit by her boyfriend, Steven Manzi. The
defendant also admitted she had been aware of the bruises to
the child’s body, but had not notified anyone.
At approximately 2:48 p.m. on Thursday, Manzi was escorted
to the Martin Police Department for the purpose of an
interview. After being advised of his Miranda rights, Manzi
agreed to waive his right to legal counsel and provide a
statement. During the course of the interview, Manzi
reportedly admitted to striking the child numerous times
with a small leather type belt. Manzi stated he did this in
order to punish the child for urinating on their bed. In a
subsequent interview, Manzi admitted to kicking the child in
the lower abdomen twice.
The child was transported
to Lebonheur Children’s Medical Center in Memphis, where
doctors discovered the child was suffering from internal
bleeding and trauma. Hospital personnel told police the
damage to the child’s abdomen was consistent with injuries
that would be sustained due to blunt force.
(Read the rest of this story in the
February 4th print edition of the Dresden Enterprise.) |
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Three injured in two-car collision |
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By David
Fisher
Staff
Reporter |
Three individuals were transported for medical care
following a two-vehicle accident Monday, February 2.
According to an incident report filed by Ptl. Guy Pryor of
the Martin Police Department, at approximately 3:46 p.m.,
70-year-old Annie L. Knox, 457 Summer Road, Martin, was
traveling west on Stella Ruth Road at the time of the crash.
Based on information obtained from an eyewitness, when Knox
attempted to cross Highway 45, her 2009 88 Oldsmobile
collided with a 2009 Chrysler Seabring, driven by Robbin L.
Jones, 1710 Hospital Drive, Union City, which was headed
south on Highway 45.
The vehicles came to rest in the southwestern ditch of the
intersection, with Knox’s vehicle facing the ditch and
Jones’ vehicle pointed toward Highway 45.
Ptl. Pryor states EMS personnel and members of the Martin
Fire Department had to extricate Knox and her a 10-year-old
male passenger. However, Jones was not trapped.
Knox was airlifted to Vanderbilt Medical Center in
Nashville, while the juvenile and Jones were transported to
Volunteer Community Hospital by Weakley County Ambulance
Service personnel.
Knox was listed as having incapacitating injuries, while the
child and Jones were listed as receiving non-incapacitating
injuries.
(Read the rest of this story in the February 4th print edition of the Dresden Enterprise.) |
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